T-Junction Dig 11
11/03/01 and 11/04/01
Only 93.4' to go!
Diggers: Bernhard Arnold, Greg Buckley, Ryan Freeman, Gerry Gattenby,
Robert Gattenby, Barry Godsey, Carolyn Hartley, Rick Hines, Ron Lather, Seokbin
Lim, Phil Ming, Matt Sutcliffe, Chris Wolters, Paul Worsey
Blast 7
Blast 6 last week did not totally remove the rock around the drilled holes.
I made an "air blaster" (ball valve connected to a 4' pipe) that we
used to with the compressor to clean out the existing holes from blast 6.
The holes that ranged from 8 to 18" deep were reloaded with explosives
(7/8" Power Split) and blast 7 finished the job started last week.
Blast 8
After minor clean up with the jackhammer holes were drilled and reloaded with
40" of Power Split each. For the first time, we shot with out a pipe
or I-beam in the 9" hole. When we first look down after the blast we
could see the clear 9" hole! The largest rock found in the cone of
debris around the 9" hole was 1"x2"x4" with typical material
ranging from dust to 0.5". The bottom of the dig was squared up with
the jackhammer and new holes drilled. We are ready for blast 9.
Caps
6.4 second delay caps were used for all loads. The long delay assured that
all blasts went off at slightly different times due to normal variation in the
delay.
42" pipe
Eddie purchased a 42" by approximately 8' long corrugated pipe to sleeve
the top of the dig. The first 3 or 4' of rock below the bottom of the 8'
steel tank is loose. The sleeve will prevent the loose material from
falling in. On Sunday Greg, Bernhard and I chipped some rock and then
lowered the 42" pipe into place. 3.5 feet of pipe extend above the
floor of the 8' tank. A gate will be cut in the 42" pipe and the rest
will be left for a safety rail. You can see the pipe in the attached
photo.
Paul Worsey brought three people with him;
Ryan Freeman, Seokbin Lim, and Matt Sutcliffe. Ryan and Bin are students.
Matt Sutcliffe is an explosive expert that lives in Richland (about 14 miles
from the dig) and may help up in the future with storage and transportation of
explosives for the dig. Matt is also connected with the local fire
department and will get a fire truck out to wash down the lose material from the
dig walls. Ryan is a student from Australia, studying for a semester at
Rolla. He is going to do a project on the T-Junction dig for his
undergraduate degree.
Compressor
Kerry Rowland reported that he has our compressor running fine! It still
has a bent axel. Can anyone help with a trailer to transport it from Osage
Beach to the dig?
Culvert placed at Schoolhouse
Mike Hartley obtained a culver for the ditch at the schoolhouse. He
delivered and installed it Sunday. Unfortunately, due to some confusion
with the county, we may need to remove it or added to its length to meet the
count specifications. We will make it right with the county so that Greg
Fry does not take any blame for our error.
Next Dig November 17 & 18
Call of email to sign up for one of more shifts.
Rick
913 897 4258